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The New York Timesreports that Blockbuster Inc. has reached a deal with Bob and Harvey Weinstein that will give Blockbuster exclusive rights to the Weinstein brothers' movies through 2010. The purpose of the agreement seems to be to prevent Netflix, my main source of entertainment, from getting its hands on the Weinstein brothers' films. In my humble opinion, this deal makes about as much sense as my deal back in the 1970s to release my new muscial performances exclusively in 8-track.

The Weinstein brothers founded the Miramax movie studio, which is now owned by Disney. [Miramax's recent "The Queen," featuring Helen Mirren, received rave reviews, but I can't comment because it never played anywhere near Valparaiso, Indiana, while the insipid "Marie Antoinette" played nearby for weeks. Nothing plays in Valparaiso anymore as our only movie theater just closed. Not that I'm bitter or anything. I'll just put "The Queen" on my Netflix queue.]

The Weinstein Brothers now run the Weinstein Company, and "Bobby," their film about the day Robert Kennedy was assassinated, is to be released today. According to the New York Times, that film will never darken my door, as it will be covered under the new agreement. Nor will I be able to add upcoming Weinstein Brother movies, "The Nanny Diaries," or "The Protector," to my queue.